Bhullar slips in third round of Australian PGA Championship

India's Gaganjeet Bhullar plummeted to a disappointing six-over 78 to drop from overnight Tied-eighth to Tied-48th in the third round of the Australian PGA Championship here.

Bhullar had no birdies and had four bogeys and one double in his card.

Marc Leishman (69) and Cameron Smith (67), the two highest-ranked players in the field, opened up a seven-shot gap on the rest with defending champion Smith possessing a three-shot buffer over his close friend and nearest rival.

Smith is 14-under, while Leishman is 11-under for 54 holes.

On a day where few challengers emerged from the pack, Smith compiled a bogey-free 5-under par round of 67, the equal best score of the third round, to take a stranglehold of the trophy still currently in his possession.

Four shots behind Leishman were 2016 champion Harold Varner III (71) and ACT veteran Matthew Millar (67).

Braden Becker (67), Matt Jager (73) and Ben Eccles (69) were one shot further back at tied fifth place.